Every team in the National Lacrosse League goes through adversity in a season. We highlighted yesterday how the Edmonton Rush lost Curtis Knight for the season. The Toronto Rock, however, may have seen the most adversity.
They lost their star scorer Garrett Billings, who was traded due to a contractual dispute after he was out with a torn ACL. Captain Colin Doyle missed most of the season. Rob Hallyer, who broke out this season, missed a large portion of time.
As always, the strong point of the Rock has been their depth and we’ve seen it again this season. Just how did this team come together?
You’ll always hear Toronto has the easiest route when building a team because around 75% (or something) of players are from Ontario and they all want to play in Toronto. Some of this is certainly true, but Toronto has used this advantage wisely along with strong drafting skills to build their roster.
Offense
Kevin Crowley- Trade
Acquired from the New England Black Wolves on the 2015 NLL trade deadline in exchange for forward Garrett Billings.
Stephan LeBlanc- Draft
Was Toronto’s first round pick in the 2009 NLL entry draft. He was the third first round selection belonging to the Rock and was picked at 11th overall.
Colin Doyle- Trade
Acquired in a trade with the Washington Stealth in exchange for Lewis Ratcliff, Tyler Codron and Joel Dalgarno. Toronto had traded Doyle to the then San Jose Stealth a few seasons before in exchange for Ryan Benesch.
Brett Hickey- FA
Signed as a free agent away from the Vancouver Stealth.
Rob Hellyer- Draft
Was Toronto’s third round selection in the 2010 NLL entry draft. Was selected at 30th overall at the age of 18.
Josh Sanderson- Trade
Acquired in a trade with the Minnesota Swarm. Minnesota selected Sanderson in the Boston Blazers dispersal draft. he and Nick Inch were traded to Toronto in exchange for the ninth selection in the dispersal draft.
Kasey Biernes- Trade
Acquired via trade with the Minnesota Swarm in 2007 in exchange for two draft selections.
Kevin Ross- FA
Signed as a free agent in 2014.
Defense
Sandy Chapman- Trade
Acquired from the Rochester Knighthawks via trade in 2009. Was traded to Toronto in exchange for forward Peter Jacobs.
Patrick Merrill- FA
Signed with Toronto as a free agent in 2010. Was signed away from the New York Titans after previously playing with Toronto.
Rob Marshall- FA
Signed with Toronto as a free agent in 2005. Went undrafted in 2005 and was first signed by the Rock.
Jeff Gilbert- FA
Signed as a free agent in the 2014 off season away from the Minnesota Swarm.
Damon Edwards- FA
Acquired as a free agent when he was playing in the Canadian Lacrosse League. Was originally a third round selection by the Rock in 2009.
Bill Greer- Trade
Acquired via trade from the Edmonton Rush in 2009.
Bill Hostrawser- Trade
Acquired in a trade with the then Washington Stealth in exchange for a third and fourth round draft pick.
Transition
Brock Sorensen- Trade
Acquired from the Minnesota Swarm in exchange for transition Ethan O’Connor, Toronto’s previous first round selection, in the 2014 off season.
Jesse Gamble- Draft
Was Toronto’s second round selection in the 2011 NLL entry draft. Was selected at 17th overall.
Brodie Merrill- Trade
Acquired in a trade with the New England Black Wolves. Toronto sent to New England Mike Burke, Craig England, a second round pick in 2014, a second rounder in 2016, and a first round selection in 2015.
Goaltending
Brandon Miller- Trade
Acquired at the 2014 NLL trade deadline from the Philadelphia Wings in exchange for forward Kyle Belton.
Nick Rose- Trade
Acquired in a trade with the Calgary Roughnecks in 2012 in exchange for a first round draft pick.
